Samir Nasri, the Manchester City midfielder, took France into the Euro 2012
finals with a late penalty in a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

On a night when City team-mate David Silva scored twice for Spain against Scotland, another member of Roberto Mancini’s squad, Edin Dzeko, had given the visitors a shock lead in Paris, but Nasri’s 78th-minute goal sealed nervous France’s place and left Bosnia in the play-off berth.

Laurent Blanc, the France coach, was a relieved man. He said: “It was what we expected. But it’s true that, even though we were poor for 45 minutes, Bosnia played very well. They were assured and showed good technical control. Their players caused us lots of problems.

“We made lots of mistakes in the first half when we were transparent, but in the second half the same players who were transparent played really well. I told them that if they wanted to go to the play-offs they’d just have to play like that. It was a nerve-racking match.”

While France are through, 2008 European Championship quarter-finalists Portugal must qualify via the play-offs to reach the finals following a 2-1 defeat in Copenhagen where Denmark qualified for Poland and Ukraine thanks to goals from Michael Krohn-Dehli and Sunderland’s Nicklas Bendtner.

Portugal finished level on points with Norway, who beat Cyprus 3-1 but finished with an inferior goal difference.

Sweden confirmed their place after ending Holland’s 100 per cent record with a 3-2 win in Solna to finish as the best runners-up.

Mesut Özil scored one goal and set up another as Germany beat Belgium 3-1 in Group A to finish with a perfect record and eliminate the visitors from a play-off spot.

Nigel Worthington’s tenure as manager of Northern Ireland ended with a 3-0 defeat in Pescara against Italy, already qualified, where a brace from Antonio Cassano and a Gareth McAuley own goal handed the manager another loss.

Afterwards, Worthington said: “I don’t look at bad luck, you make your own luck in football.

“Overall we have done exceptionally well for what we’ve got and what a fantastic occasion, from my own point of view. What a fantastic game to finish on against a top quality side like Italy.

“We’ve been one unit all the way through. For the team to grow together has been important for me and I hope that continues for Northern Ireland.”

In the same group Slovenia beat Serbia 1-0 with a goal from Dare Vrsic to send Estonia into the play-offs. Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic, playing his first game for eight weeks, missed a 65th-minute penalty for Serbia, and reports from the Serbian camp last night suggested that the defender is to quit international football.

Greece won 2-1 against Georgia in Tbilisi to book their place thanks to late goals from Giorgos Fotakis and Angelos Charisteas.